According to the study, only 12 per cent young men and 25 per cent young women have received any family life/sex education in Maharashtra. This when 41.8 per cent married males, 31.6 per cent married females, 51 per cent unmarried males and 31.8 per cent unmarried females in the state have comprehensive knowledge of HIV/AIDS. Though 94.8 per cent of married males, 64.6 per cent married females, 94.5 per cent unmarried males and 55.4 per cent unmarried females have heard of condoms, only 89.9 married males, 39.3 per cent married females, 83.1 per cent unmarried males and 18 per cent unmarried females have correct specific knowledge of condoms.

“The youth have more acquaintance and proximity with their teachers. The data shows that of those young women and men who received any sex education, majority received it from their teachers and this is probably the reason that they consider teachers to be the best people to impart sex education,” says Usha Ram.

Integrating sex education in school curriculum has remained a contentious issue in the country though some states have gone ahead and included it on a pilot basis.

The study further reveals that the youth residing in urban areas and educated apparently are slightly better off as compared to those living in rural areas who have received no or less sex education.

And among the young people who got information about sexual matters from any source, there was significantly low percentage of unmarried women.

“The findings of our study reveal that marriage is the key to learning sexual and reproductive matters as neither service providers nor the gatekeepers mind when married young women and men seek information on sexual matters as it is socially acceptable and there is no socio-cultural taboo attached to this. However, in our society there is enormous cultural barrier/stigma attached to seeking information on matters related to sexual and reproductive health by unmarried young people,” said Usha Ram.

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